West Calgary Ring Road Going Ahead?

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by troutman

The only people I see concerned about the Weaselhead, are anonymous men stumbling out of the bushes, zipping up their pants.

Likely, it is the people who live in Oakridge who trump-up the environmental issue. Nonetheless, my impression is that the City won't even consider this option.

[JohnnyO]

Wonder if they will smarten up and build it 3 lanes a side, instead of the mess they have built in the North, which will open soon. with 2 lanes in spots, and 4 lanes in other spots thus casuing another deerfoot trail nightmare for truckers.

They need 3 lanes in each direction as no on in this city knows how to merge.

On the north side the traffic light at Center St will be amusing. Ring Road with lights Brilliant!!

[chummer]

Originally Posted by JohnnyO

a which will open soon.

Any idea when it opens?

It looks good to go.

[JohnnyO]

Originally Posted by chummer

Any idea when it opens?

It looks good to go.

Not sure I was thinking that it looks ready as well.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by JohnnyO

Wonder if they will smarten up and build it 3 lanes a side, instead of the mess they have built in the North, which will open soon. with 2 lanes in spots, and 4 lanes in other spots thus casuing another deerfoot trail nightmare for truckers.

They need 3 lanes in each direction as no on in this city knows how to merge.

On the north side the traffic light at Center St will be amusing. Ring Road with lights Brilliant!!

Like Deerfoot at Peigan with not so much as an on lane. That is finally corrected. What kind of absolute morons do they have at City Hall masquerading as engineers?

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Like Deerfoot at Peigan with not so much as an on lane. That is finally corrected. What kind of absolute morons do they have at City Hall masquerading as engineers?

In fairness to those engineers, whom I also curse frequently (see Glenmore/Deerfoot: wtf!?!) when Deerfoot was planned then completed the city population was much smaller. Foothills Industrial park was much smaller. Obviously they did not envisage such population growth, nor so many people working in that industrial area.

But yes, having a yield onto a freeway was pretty silly.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyO

Wonder if they will smarten up and build it 3 lanes a side, instead of the mess they have built in the North, which will open soon. with 2 lanes in spots, and 4 lanes in other spots thus casuing another deerfoot trail nightmare for truckers.

They need 3 lanes in each direction as no on in this city knows how to merge.

On the north side the traffic light at Center St will be amusing. Ring Road with lights Brilliant!!

Unlikely it will be 3 lanes. Stoney Trail is only 2 in each direction and Hwy 8 is only one. Also, they do not seem to have allocated enough clearance from sections of the residential areas, unless they build the road on the RM of Rockyview side of the TUC corridor, which is highly unlikely as the RM always seems to have special agreements that screw Calgary over.

EDIT: Meant Stoney Trail not Sarcee.

[Jayems]

How's the Deerfoot/Stoney interchange coming? Haven't been out there in forever. Looked like a big one.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Likely, it is the people who live in Oakridge who trump-up the environmental issue. Nonetheless, my impression is that the City won't even consider this option.

Yeah, its always the people who live down there who seem so surprised that a ring road was planned in their backyard and cry environmentalist.

You're right, a ring road was never planned back there and it just snuck up on you. Pay no attention to the major 4 lane artery called 90th Ave that just seems to magically end; it was just put in place so you would have somewhere to park when you walk your dog in a long stretch of land that seems perfect to place a ring road.

[Nancy]

Actually, I believe they also have big signs in Oakridge marking where the future TUC is.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Actually, I believe they also have big signs in Oakridge marking where the future TUC is.

Shhhh, don't tell that to the "environmentalists".

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Madman

Yeah, its always the people who live down there who seem so surprised that a ring road was planned in their backyard and cry environmentalist.

You're right, a ring road was never planned back there and it just snuck up on you. Pay no attention to the major 4 lane artery called 90th Ave that just seems to magically end; it was just put in place so you would have somewhere to park when you walk your dog in a long stretch of land that seems perfect to place a ring road.

Precisely, its only been on the books since 1962. The road was disclosed information for any and all interested home buyer. Not to mention the tax breaks. Now, when its time to pay the piper, they cry foul to protect a swamp, with a disgusting asphalt plant nearby.

I'd bite the bullet on Oakridge, build it, and "forget" to connect the Casino to the new 37th/Glenmore alignment.

[Save Us Sutter]

So having enjoyed more than a few summer days last year at both weaselhead and further west along the river in Griffith Woods I'm kinda curious how they are going to get a major road through there without destroying it?

Call me an environmentalist if you want but that's quite the wetland habitat they're going to wreck. Doesn't the reservoir supply Calgary with it's drinking water? The wetland acts as a natural filter for the water before it gets there. Surely that is going to be strongly affected unless maybe they build that whole section as a bridge?

I have no doubt that the city has plans for this, so I'm not necessarily trying to crap on them, just trying to find out what those plans are. Anyone?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Save Us Sutter

So having enjoyed more than a few summer days last year at both weaselhead and further west along the river in Griffith Woods I'm kinda curious how they are going to get a major road through there without destroying it?

Call me an environmentalist if you want but that's quite the wetland habitat they're going to wreck. Doesn't the reservoir supply Calgary with it's drinking water? The wetland acts as a natural filter for the water before it gets there. Surely that is going to be strongly affected unless maybe they build that whole section as a bridge?

Bridges, namely of the Suspension variety. It would cost more, but it would save the headache of the First Nations and the exorbitant costs they'll likely command.

[Save Us Sutter]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Bridges, namely of the Suspension variety. It would cost more, but it would save the headache of the First Nations and the exorbitant costs they'll likely command.

That's kinda what I thought, thanks. There are parts of the Trans Canada in N.B. (IIRC) that are built the same way due to the wetlands there as well. With all the "build it anyway and damn the hippies" talk, it's good to know they do have a plan in place to minimize the environmental impact.

I guess no one imagined Calgary would grow so big when the reservation lands were first drawn up? Though I guess there are probably reasons their land is where it is. Too bad we couldn't just move the whole parcel a few kms to the west!

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Save Us Sutter

That's kinda what I thought, thanks. There are parts of the Trans Canada in N.B. (IIRC) that are built the same way due to the wetlands there as well. With all the "build it anyway and damn the hippies" talk, it's good to know they do have a plan in place to minimize the environmental impact.

I guess no one imagined Calgary would grow so big when the reservation lands were first drawn up? Though I guess there are probably reasons their land is where it is. Too bad we couldn't just move the whole parcel a few kms to the west!

I think the planners of yesteryear (50s-70s) assumed Calgary would get this big (at least, thats what Rod Sykes claims), hence the "Sarcee Tr. Expansion", the attempted freeways and downtown subway tunnels that were planned, started, but never completed as needed.

But yeah, it would be a rather expensive and impressive undertaking. Makes the Fish Creek bridge on 37th look like a day job.